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Following last week's underwhelming performance against the Japanese team, Andy Farrell told his Ireland squad to improve their performance.

The team responded right away.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and taken most of the match to get going versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they started powerfully, with the talented back shining most prominently during a 46-19 triumph that represented Ireland's best display this year.

In his first international start at the number 15 position, the player registered a three tries, competed excellently for high balls and performed exceptionally against the nation of his origin.

"Look, I've experienced a pretty difficult run with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this team, I understand there's considerable talk about me not necessarily being born here and I didn't grow up here, but I love this team and this seems like family.

"Any time I get to represent for Ireland it's a honor, if you don't put in a performance you may not get that opportunity again.

"My entire approach this period was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Good players don't need excuses'

Following 28 caps on the flank, Hansen was given the full-back position for the initial time with multiple players injured.

For him, it was essentially a matter of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test team.

Having come back last month, he developed a lower body problem that made him unavailable for previous fixtures.

The coach had indicated that the player was especially determined and these turned out to be not hollow words as the ex- provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for future matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform well in those two colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's decision to wear different boots.

"Actually I thought that was appropriate but apparently Mack just did that personally anyway. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even started.

"I said to him before the match, 'Excellent players require no justifications, they can perform and just play naturally, you can win the player of the game if you want,' and he went, 'Yes, I concur.'

"So he's that kind of player, he prepares well, he's got a great approach to understand his detail and so that's why he slotted right back in and he was able to perform naturally due to that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the opposing manager, who remarked he was the "exceptional opposition performer" on the evening.

"I thought he was super, his knowledge was evident to the fore," commented the ex- national manager.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best opposition performer on the pitch. He's has a excellent ability and he's such a strong contender."

Pressed about what enables the player a strong option at full-back, the coach continued: "Appearing in the middle of the field is something that he does from the flank anyway, but I suppose he's better in position for that more often.

"His aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we didn't get bored of executing the correct approach and that was putting the ball back on them to gain field position.

"Why that was the correct thing to do is because it's the players of Mackie who was securing the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were multiple positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the number 10 jersey, the scrum and line-out functioned effectively and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first appearance in the front row.

But perhaps more pleasing for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with multiple strong periods.

The player's initial couple of tries came in the opening eleven minutes while other teammates scored in the closing exchanges after the opposition had scored, ensuring the Irish side concluded on a high.

"I thought we truly let ourselves go and approached the match right from the beginning," said the coach.

"How we handled various elements throughout the match, particularly the opposition coming back just before the break and regathering ourselves and producing a performance like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that later period was truly satisfying."

The strength of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an informal decider to the previous season's tied two-Test contest on opposition territory.

Farrell's side will require to reach another level to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct path after an uninspiring start to their autumn campaign.